Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) officers, the backbone of national security, continue to endure unbearable hardships as they remain among the lowest-paid soldiers in the East African region.

Despite their unwavering dedication to safeguarding the country, they struggle to survive on meagre wages while politicians and top government officials indulge in extravagant lifestyles.

A recent appeal by human rights activist Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity has shed light on the dire financial situation of KDF officers, highlighting their inability to provide for their families.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, Dr. Kinity condemned the government’s continued neglect of its soldiers.

He pointed out that a KDF officer earns as little as Ksh7,172 ($55) per month, an amount that is not only demeaning but also disgraceful when compared to their counterparts in neighbouring countries.

In Tanzania, soldiers take home a minimum of $413 per month, while in Burundi, they earn at least $178. In Rwanda, the minimum salary is $170. These figures paint a grim picture of Kenya’s misplaced priorities

Kenya, a country that borrows billions every year, collects massive revenue from taxpayers, and receives substantial donor funding, should have the capacity to pay its soldiers a dignified wage.

However, much of these funds are looted and stashed in offshore accounts by politicians and their cronies.

Many of their children go to bed hungry, wear tattered clothes, and attend school under distressing conditions.

While soldiers in other countries are respected and rewarded for their service, Kenyan soldiers suffer in silence, unable to protest due to strict military discipline.

Unlike other government workers, they lack unions to voice their grievances, leaving them at the mercy of a corrupt system that continuously exploits them.

Dr. Kinity has called out the hypocrisy of Kenya’s leadership, which lavishes Members of Parliament with salaries equivalent to those of legislators in developed nations.

While soldiers battle tough conditions, MPs purchase multi-million-shilling mansions, helicopters, and designer watches that cost more than what a KDF officer earns in a decade.

The blatant looting of public funds has become normalized, while those who deserve fair wages are left in misery.

“The money looted every month in Kenya is enough to pay KDF officers at least $500 each,” Dr. Kinity stated.

“Why are we watching our soldiers suffer while our leaders swim in wealth? Why should a soldier, who is willing to die for his country, earn less than a house cleaner in some Nairobi estates?”

Why Ruto Pays Police Better

The letter also pointed out how President William Ruto’s administration has prioritized the police force over the military. While the police receive better salaries, KDF officers remain neglected.

Dr. Kinity claims that this is a calculated move by the government to keep the police force happy, as they serve as bodyguards to top politicians, ensuring their protection as they continue to plunder public funds.

“What justification is there for paying the police more than the military? Soldiers sacrifice more. They are deployed to war-torn areas, fight terrorists, and protect the nation’s borders, yet they earn peanuts,” Dr. Kinity lamented.

The suffering of KDF officers is worsened by the fact that they have no representation and remain voiceless unlike other civil servants.

Their cries are buried under the rigid structure of the military, which forbids them from engaging in protests or negotiations.

Dr. Kinity urged Atwoli to take up their case even though they do not contribute to COTU.

“You may argue that KDF officers do not contribute to COTU, but as the leader of the umbrella labour movement, you have a moral obligation to speak up for them. If you do not, then who will? Will you just sit back and watch as they continue to be mistreated?” he asked.

Further, he reminded Atwoli of their past collaboration in fighting for workers’ rights, reminiscing about the days when they would have coffee together as he aggressively addressed the plight of civil servants.

He also challenged Atwoli to stand up for KDF officers instead of fearing the wrath of the current regime.

Besides, he condemned Kenya’s decision to send police officers to Haiti, where they are facing dangerous conditions, just because the government received foreign funding for the mission.

The move, he said, showed how little the administration valued the lives of its security officers, treating them as mere commodities to be traded for money.

While the government remains silent on this issue, Dr. Kinity’s letter has sparked a conversation on the need for immediate intervention.

Kenyans are now questioning how the country can afford to waste billions on luxury expenditures for politicians while those entrusted with national security live in despair.

The suffering of KDF officers is not just a personal issue it is a national shame. A country that does not respect its soldiers, a country that forces them into poverty while the elite flourish, is a country that has lost its moral compass.

The question remains: will the government listen, or will it continue to ignore the very people who put their lives on the line for the nation?

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